Pembroke man charged with assault after standoff

PEMBROKE, Maine — Brian Barnes, 49, was arrested in his Pembroke home Tuesday afternoon, after a manhunt and brief standoff, on charges that he assaulted his former girlfriend in Eastport.

He was charged with assault, terrorizing and stalking and taken to Washington County Jail in Machias. The charges are Class C felonies each punishable by up to five years in jail and a $5,000 fine.

Eastport Police Chief Matthew Vinson said he responded to a call of a burglary in progress about 9:05 a.m. Tuesday. Barnes allegedly had forced his way into his former girlfriend’s home and assaulted her.

Vinson said that Barnes has previous convictions for domestic assault involving the same woman and that Barnes also has been convicted of assaulting police officers, including Vinson himself.

After the assault, Barnes fled Eastport on foot and a search was launched, Vinson said. Washington County sheriff’s deputies and Pleasant Point police assisted.

Vinson said that at some point Barnes made his way to his home in Pembroke. Once he was discovered there, Vinson said, officers were unable to make contact with him either from outside the home or by telephone.

Vinson called for assistance, and eventually three Eastport police units and five Sheriff’s Department cruisers surrounded the home.

“At that point, he saw he was outnumbered and just came out of the house,” Vinson said.

Barnes did not use a weapon in the assault or during the standoff, Vinson said.

Further charges may be lodged, according to Vinson, and the case has been turned over to the Washington County District Attorney’s Office.